# rugby

/ˈɹəɡbi/ (US) · /ɹˈʌɡbi/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rugby
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a team sport played with an oval ball that players can carry, kick, and pass to each other. You score points by touching the ball down behind the opponent's goal line or kicking it through the posts.

For teachers: a team sport played with an ovoid ball, characterised by physical contact and the use of both hands and feet to move the ball toward the opposing goal. The two main variants are Union and League, which differ in player count and specific rules of play.

## Examples

- He plays rugby for a local club every Saturday.
- The school decided to introduce rugby to the physical education curriculum to encourage teamwork and physical fitness among the students.
- While soccer dominates global viewership, rugby maintains a fervent following in nations where its unique blend of tactical kicking and brute physical strength is deeply woven into the local sporting culture.

## Usage notes

- When referring to the sport itself, it is uncountable; when referring to a specific match, it is typically used as an attributive noun, as in 'a rugby match'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.